SDFC’s playoff hopes end in 4-1 loss to Whitecaps

San Diego FC’s Wednesday night road trip to BC Place ended in a 4-1 loss to the Vancouver Whitecaps, eliminating the club from Western Conference playoff contention.

With only three matches remaining in the regular season, SDFC entered Wednesday night in must-win territory, trailing the final Western Conference playoff positions by multiple match results. 

SDFC’s winless run continued last Saturday night, with their 2-2 home draw to the Seattle Sounders extending the club’s winless streak to nine consecutive matches.

The task only grew more difficult for the Chrome & Azul, who needed a win on the road against the Western Conference-leading Vancouver Whitecaps. Vancouver had already handed SDFC a 4-2 defeat earlier this season, back on May 23 at Snapdragon Stadium.

The league leaders struck first on Wednesday night, with Whitecaps midfielder Aleksa Cvetković getting on the end of a grounded cross right outside the goal area as Cvetković got the left-footed touch finish into the net for the 1-0 score in the 24-minute. 

Forward Brian White doubled up the Whitecaps' advantage right before the halftime break, meeting a backpost goal-area cross with a leaping header into the goal to make it a 2-0 scoreline at the 41-minute mark. 

The Whitecaps were first to the scoreboard in the second half, with midfielder Ryan Gauld pouncing on an initial wide shot with a close-range diving header in the 66-minute to make it 3-0 for Vancouver. 

Subbed on forward Bruno Caicedo needed just nine minutes to make it 4-0, coming directly off a Yohei Takaoka save. Caicedo finished a counterattacking dribble from his own half, then buried his shot into the bottom right corner in the 76-minute, extending to a four-goal lead. 

SDFC’s lone goal of the night came in the 83-minute, as Finnish midfielder Onni Valakari flicked a header over the defense to sneak the ball into the net for his fifth goal of the season, sealing a 4-1 final scoreline in favor of the Whitecaps.

SDFC’s playoff hopes came up short following their 4-1 Wednesday night loss at BC Place to the Whitecaps, with their losing efforts pushing their winless streak to ten consecutive games. 

San Diego FC return to action Saturday for a Halloween road matchup against Eastern Conference side St. Louis City SC at Energizer Park. Kickoff is set for 12 p.m. PT.